Three directional control vane



y 1961 E. F. KATZENBERGER 2,984,255

THREE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VANE Filed July 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I II INVENTOR.

EDWARD F. KATZENBERGER BY Wa ATTORNEYS y 1961 E. F. KATZENBERGER2,984,255

THREE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1958 INVEN TOR. EDWARD F. KATZENBER'GEF? MMLJ/ ATTORNEYS United States PatentTHREE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL VANE Edward F. Katzenberger, Westport, Conn.,assiguor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Air Force Filed July 14, 1958, Ser. No. 748,547

Claims. (Cl. 137-610) This invention relates to a three directionalcontrol vane for diverting a fluid through either or both of thebranches of a Y-duct. More particularly, it relates to a control vanefor directing the air stream from an air compressor in a convertiplaneto either the rotor blade or blades for lift or to the tail pipe forforward propulsion.

There are many devices for closing ofi or diverting a stream of air orfluid from a main duct to branch ducts or to either branch of a Y-ductbut all of the types require considerable force to open a duct once itis closed where high velocity of the fluid stream is involved. Inconvertiplane use the air velocity is very high and the ordinary vanewould be diflicult to operate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a control vane capable ofdirecting a high velocity stream of air partly to one branch and partlyto another or wholly to one branch or the other of a Y-shaped duct witha minimum of control power.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which iseconomical to manufacture and is easy to operate and maintain.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a three directionalcontrol vane which is readily adaptable to remote control.

Essentially, the invention consists of three blades of airfoilconstruction pivoted at their mid chord points to a bar journalled atthe intersection of the branches of a Y-shaped duct of rectangular crosssection. A second bar, parallel to the first, is connected to the threeblades near their leading edges and at one end to a crank under remotecontrol. As the arm of the crank is moved the blades line up one behindthe other to divide the air stream equally between the receivingbranches of the duct or at an angle to the air stream diverting the airto one branch or the other in proportion to the movement of the crank.Thus the pilot can divert the compressed air to the tail of the planefor forward flight or to the rotor blade or blades for vertical lift.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of a proposed convertiplane in whichthe invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a view in section showing the blades in a position to directthe air stream to the tail of the plane;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the blades in aneutral position to permit the air stream to flow equally to bothbranches of the Y-duct;

Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing theblades in a position to deflect the air stream toward the rotor blade;and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the connection of the blades to theparallel bars and their attachment to the crank arm.

In the drawings, the body 4') of a proposed convertiplane is shown ashaving an air scoop 42 for supplying air to an air compressor 44 whichis driven by motor 46. The compressed air enters a duct 18 and isdirected by the Y-duct 24, into a branch 20 of the duct, leading to therotor blade 48 or to a branch 22 of the duct leading to the tail of theplane at 49.

A bar or supporting member 10 connects airfoil blades 12, pivoted at 11,and connected to said blades at 13. A second bar 14, which is alwaysparallel to bar 10, is shown connected to the leading edges of theblades 12 at 15. Bar 14 is also shown connected to the crank arm 16 at15'. A crank shaft 26 is shown journalled in the wall 25 of the saidduct and held in place by lock nuts 32 and washers 34 and terminating ina crank 28 and a crank handle 30 in order to provide actuating means tomove bar 14 to deflect said blades.

In operation, it is obvious that if the blades are in the neutralposition as shown in Fig. 3 and the crank arm 16 is moved in thedirection of the arrow 9, as shown in Fig. 2, the blades will take aposition to direct the air to branch 22 of the duct leading to the tailof the plane at 49. If the crank arm 16 is moved in the direction of thearrow 9, as in Fig. 4, the blades 12 will be in a position to direct theair to branch 20 of the duct leading to the rotor blade 48.

The advantage of this type of deflecting vane is obvious. The bladesbeing pivoted at their mid points receive the force of the air streamequally on the leading and trailing edges, thus reducing the forcenecessary to turn them. Furthermore, the blades 12 are of airfoilconstruction thus further reducing the resistance offered to the airstream.

Having this described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a distribution system for rapidly moving fluids, a Y-duct andmeans located within said duct and arranged to permit fluid to bedeflected into one or the other of the branches of said Y-duct, saidmeans comprising a supporting member pivoted adjacent to the junction ofsaid branches, elongated deflecting blades pivotally mounted at theirmid points on said member, means connecting said blades at one endthereof, and actuating means connected with said last-mentioned means tomove said blades into position to deflect said fluid into one branch orthe other.

2. In a distribution system for rapidly moving fluids, a Y-duct andmeans within said duct and arranged to permit fluid to be deflected intoone or the other of the branches of said Y-duct, said means comprising asupporting member pivoted adjacent to the junction of said branches,deflecting blades pivotally mounted at their mid points on said member,and means connected with said blades remote from said pivotal mountingof said blades for causing a simultaneous rotation of said supportingmember about its pivot and the said blades about their pivotal mountingson said member.

3. In a distribution system for rapidly moving fluids, a Y-duct andmeans within said duct and arranged to permit fluid to be deflected intoone or the other of the branches of said Y-duct, said means comprising asupporting member pivoted adjacent to the junction of said branches,deflecting blades pivotally mounted at their mid points on said member,and means for swinging said member into position, said means beingassociated with said blades for simultaneously swinging said blades intoposition to deflect fluid into one or the other of said branches.

4. In a directional control vane for deflecting a high velocity streamof air, the combination of a Y-duct of rectangular cross-section, amember journalled at the intersection of the branches of said duct,airfoil blades, each of said blades having a leading edge, a trailingedge, a top and a bottom, said airfoil blades being pivoted to saidmember at the mid-points of one of said top and bottom of each of saidblades, a bar pivoted at the leading edges of said blades to the otherof said top and bottom of each of said blades such that said bar isoriented parallel to said member, and a crank connected to said bar toswing said member into position and to swing said blades to cause saidblades to deflect the stream of air to one or the other of the branchesof the said duct.

5. In a directional control vane the combination of a Y-duct, meansjournalled at the intersection of the branches of said duct, a series ofblades of airfoil crosssection pivoted about a point mid-way along thechord of said blades, means pivotally connected to the leading edges ofsaid airfoil blades, and actuating means connected with last-mentionedmeans to cause movement thereof to change the angle of said blades todeflect a stream of air to one or the other or both of the branches ofthe Y-duct.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS164,033 Pratt June 1, 1875 1,217,938 Guice Mar. 6, 1917 2,109,650 RatherMar. 1, 1938 2,546,673 Mattix et a1 Mar. 27, 1951 2,726,510 Goddard Dec.13, 1955 2,837,301 Jenney June 3, 1958 2,865,260 Lee Dec. 23, 1958

